Section 1 (Reincarnation・Enrolment in the Academy)
Four years have already passed and I am now seven years old.
[……]
In a hut in the forest, in the middle of the night. While the shikigami emitted dim light, I was silently stirring a huge pot with a large spatula.
This is clearly not the behaviour of a seven-year-old. It is very much a direct and suspicious sight but I must not be discovered which is why I’m doing this at this hour.
Simple work in a quiet place helps me to think.
I have learnt a lot since then.
The Uldwight Empire that encompasses the Lamprogue territory here is, as I thought, quite a powerful country.
I felt that its culture was similar to that of the West in my previous life but the level of the civilization surpassed it. It was peaceful and prosperous.
Although there were lords that governed each region, no military service was imposed because the strength of the direct army under the empire’s control was strong. The job of the lords is to solely manage the territory but they are prohibited from fighting over territories.
Those circumstances are much better than the empire in my previous life.
However, there are still some threats.
That is, monsters and the demon race.
Monsters are like the demons that existed in my previous life. There are monsters that occasionally attack humans. However, their corpses are also a resource so they are more useful than demons.
And the demon race are those who govern the demon territory outside the empire. They are hostile to humans. From what I have heard, they are human beings similar to monsters.
Usually, the troops of the imperial army will be stationed at various places to keep a watchful eye along the border and occasionally subjugate troublesome monsters (and even hunt down bandits while they are at it), maintaining peace.
However, even so, it did not mean that all the monsters could be dealt with. That’s why towns have their own forces for self-defense or surround themselves with adventures. The Lamprogue territory also has a vigilante corps that maintains public order.
Speaking of self-defense————this world has its own magic system.
They are called the four attributes of magic. All of them are categorised into fire, water, wind and earth and it seems to be considerably similar to the magic system.
Actually, in addition to this, there are also the light and darkness attributes but……somehow, I felt that it was similar to an aspect of the art of the Cosmic Dual Force and Five Elements1 that I have developed.
I have a few things to think about in regards to magic but I’ll devote myself to learn it precisely in the future.
I’m sure I’ll be able to get something out of it.
[But……Let’s do this first.]
I looked down at the large pot.
I sighed as I thought about the hard work that would follow.
I’m making paper right now.
I really need it to make the doll, the medium for the shikigami. As paper is also a valuable commodity in this world, I cannot readily get my hands on it with the status of a child.
So I decided to make my own.
As for the way of making it, first tear the raw material, grass into pieces and boil it in a strong alkaline liquid to saturate it in a high concentration of iron. Then take out only the fibers and pound them well. Add the plant as a binder, pour the pulp into a mold and let it dry thoroughly. That’s all.
I was lucky. In my previous life, I studied paper-making in depth as I was particular about the raw materials used to make my charms. That’s the reason why I was able to find and substitute the original raw materials such as Broussonetia and Gampi for grass, and substitute Abelmoschus manihot for fruits.
Well, it took me a long time to find the materials and make the tools.
The work itself is hard work and tough for a child’s body but it can’t be helped. Although I enjoy using techniques and shikigami as much as possible, I can’t do everything by myself.
[……Hmm.]
I felt a sense of discomfort in my mouth.
I pushed the wobbly tooth with my tongue and it came out without much difficulty.
I spit out my baby tooth and placed it on my palm. I check it and put it in my pocket with a smile of satisfaction.
A tooth can also be a great tool for spiritual arts.
Reincarnation is a good opportunity to try out things that I could not attempt in my previous life.
If I can create a lot of dolls, the things that I can do will increase.
My second life is going well.